Hell's Kitchen

John Pellam #3

by William Jefferies, Jeffery Deaver

Every New York City neighbourhood has a story, but what John Pellam uncovers in Hell's Kitchen has a darkness all its own. The Hollywood location scout is hoping to capture the unvarnished memories of longtime Kitchen residents in a no-budget documentary film. But when a suspicious fire ravages an elderly woman's crumbling tenement, Pellam realises that someone might want the past to stay buried. As more buildings and lives go up in flames, Pellam takes to the streets, seeking the twisted pyromaniac who sells services to the highest bidder. But Pellam is unaware that the fires are merely flickering preludes to the arsonist's ultimate masterpiece - a conflagration of nearly unimaginable proportion ...

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Detective

368 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

There is more than one author by this name in the database.

This author: Pseudonym for Jeffery Deaver.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is better than the last one about Pellam in NY doing a documentary of Hells Kitchen. A mad arsonist, gangs, a property developer and a woman social worker helping street kids.

Overall much better than the last novel. I think this was the last in the series of three. I think Deaver captured the heat of August and the changes brought on by gentrification which are not all good.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is number three, and possibly, the last of the John Pellam series. And I think the best of them.

The story takes place the Hell's Kitchen, a troubled area of New York. Lots of confrontation from rival gangs. People live in crowded tenements, unemployment in endemic, drugs of every type are prolific and people turn a deaf ear to any sort of trouble.

There's a saying in Australia, maybe elsewhere to, " no hoper" meaning, someone born in such low circumstances that they have no hope of making a success of life. That's the situation for a lot of young people unfortunate enough to be born in Hell's Kitchen.

I liked that Jeffery Deaver didn't make any assumptions when writing about the gangs. Just making the point that this is how life is in Hell's Kitchen

John Pellam works in the movie industry,mostly, as a location scout but at this time he is trying to making a documentary of the life and times of Hell's Kitchen. Whilst filming and conducting interviews in Hell's Kitchen he comes close to being burned to death in a fire set by an arsonist. One of his interviewees stands accused of starting the fire and John takes it upon himself to prove her innocence.

The plot is tight and fast paces with an end that I did not see coming.

All in all a good read.
Recommended reading

[Jessie (thatchickwithabook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell’s Kitchen was by far the best book in Jeffery Deaver’s John Pellam trilogy. Written a decade after the previous novel and the last in the series, it’s evident how well Deaver’s talent grew over the 90s. An incredible mystery thriller with that classic Deaver twist and then twist again. Whilst it’s part of a trilogy, there’s not particularly any large references that could stop you reading this as a stand-alone.

[Kym Gamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was long. Longer than I think it needed to be. I liked the characters but found the book as a whole, hard to continue to pick up. A man is in Hell's Kitchen, doing a documentary of the area and while getting ready to interview one resident, a fire breaks out in the building. Then you go on this rollercoaster ride as the arsonist continues to set fires around the area. The person who was being interviewed is charged with paying the arsonist to set fire to the building.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Pellam is making a documentary on Hell's Kitchen. He and an old lady he is interviewing are also trapped in a fire set by a serial arsonist. When the woman is arrested for the crime Pellam tries to help her and becomes a target of the arsonist as more landmark status buildings are set ablaze. An interesting read.

[Kimberly Sheltra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different but very good.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rubbish end to a very disappointing trilogy which I wouldn't have bothered with if this wasn't Jeffery Deaver under another name, and as it turns out, is really nothing like the Lincoln Rhyme books. I think these came first - so it's hard to know why he used a pseudonym, but somehow he figured out how to write entertaining stories. This certainly wasn't - in fact I found the whole thing boring, unpleasant and annoying, and should've given in to my instincts to DNF it, but was determined to get to the end.

So John Pellam, former Arthouse movie director turned stuntman turned documentary film maker, is in New York interviewing an elderly black lady for an oral history of the Hell's Kitchen district, when her building goes up in flames. She is arrested for it, while the psychopathic arsonist goes on a spree, and so Pellam meets a lot of unsavouries while trying to clear her name, gets beaten up a lot, and uncovers a conspiracy. The problem was way too much talking and anecdotes, Pellam being a complete arse, not a single likeable character, it's 16 years old and feels even more dated than that (Polaroids! Betacam! Hideous sexism!) and a plot that was probably not as confusing if I hadn't been speed-reading to get to the end. There are JD's trademark twists, which raised it from 1 to 2 stars, but my advice would be stay away from this whole series as it isn't worth the time investment.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.0/10
The plot of the novel is great. However, in my opinion there is too much writing. Deaver gives unnecessary background information, that has no apparent function in the novel. This bothered me quite a bit, because it made the novel a bit boring. It was a bit tedious at some points. Apart from this fact, the novel was very realistic and it contained heartfelt emotions.

“I don’t know. I can find out.” The way Bailey emphasised the last sentence explained a little bit more about how gears got gummed up. {…} “that’s how it works in Hell’s Kitchen. Everybody’s a sellout. Maybe even me.” The smile faded. “Or maybe I just have a high price. That’s ethics around here - when it takes a lot to buy you.” - Louis Bailey, p.46

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller. The main character, John Pellam, was the exact right combination of tough and sensitive. He was very likable. This story was very suspenseful and had many twists and turns. You didn't know for sure who the bad guys were until the very end. Jeffrey Dever very rarely disappoints, and this is one book that is worth reading

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a chance on this one, since it didn't have Deaver's usual characters. It was rather glum--having homeless people and a young man who liked to set fires to all sorts of places there. The main character is an author who wants to chronicle the lives of the residents.

[Clem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third, and final, installment of the “Location Scout” mysteries penned by Jeffery Deaver. Actually, it was written under his pseudonym “William Jefferies” for whatever reason. These books by Deaver aren’t as strong as most of his latter day thrillers, particularly the Lincoln Rhyme stories. In these books, the protagonist is John Pellam, a veteran of many Hollywood productions, mostly as a stunt man. Being a stunt man takes Pellam all over the country, so such settings for a mystery can always be fresh.

In this book, Pellam is venturing out on his own, so to speak, and is producing a documentary on the famed Hell’s Kitchen in West Manhattan. Hell’s Kitchen, at least during the time this book was written, is not a happy place. A lot of crime, drugs, crack mothers, and overworked social workers. As the story opens, Pellam is on his way to continue a series of interviews with 70 year old Ettie Washington, a longtime resident of Hell’s Kitchen, when her building explodes in an inferno just as Pellam is walking up the stairs. Both Pellam and Washington survive, and Pellam spends the book searching for the reason of the fire, trying to pinpoint the guilty party.

It won’t be easy. Apparently the investigators think 70 year old Washington was responsible, so she’s quickly arrested and hauled away. They don’t think she actually started the inferno, yet paid a professional whacked-out arsonist. It seems the arsonist is continuing to strike all over Manhattan, so the authorities want Washington to confess, and talk about what she knows. This way, they can locate this loon before he can do too much more damage. Of course, Pellam believes she’s innocent, so he spends this entire story being harassed by authorities since he’s “friends” with the woman, in addition to uncovering clues within this dangerous environment.

What I never figured out was: if this deranged arsonist/nut is running around picking random targets to incinerate, why do the authorities believe that he was paid by a 70 year old impoverished woman to start the first one? Couldn’t the original fire been a random target as well? And it seems a bit far fetched that a 70 year old woman whose lived here her entire life would be a person who could be considered a serious accomplice. This was a big strike against this book for me.

So Pellam plows through the streets, talking to all sorts of undesirables and putting himself in harm’s way in many occasions. These thugs don’t like strangers coming into their territory asking a lot of questions. Since Pellam is a professional stunt man, he knows how to handle a weapon and defend himself pretty well, and he does have somewhat of a motivation. He’s not exactly well off in the finance deparment, and he’s put a lot of his own money into this documentary, so if his star subject goes to prison, it doesn’t exactly make his product very marketable.

So we see him going from place to place within Hell’s Kitchen, and every environment that he’s visits is horribly dirty and disgusting. This book almost makes you want to take a bath after reading. As Deaver usually does, though, he introduces a lot of different characters, a lot of plot twists, and you’re never quite sure where he’s going. He manages to fool and/or surprise the reader quite frequently so it does make the book a good read. I just wish the location had been a bit more desirable - along with the main plot. I’ll also say that Hell’s Kitchen is, in fact, a real place, but due to gentrification and the overall improvement of Midtown Manhattan, it’s not nearly the hell hole it once was. Visitors to the Big Apple shouldn’t be too scared.

This was my second of the three “Location Scout” books. As much as I like Jeffery Deaver, I’m kind of hoping that we’ve seen the last of them. They’re really not bad, it’s just that Deaver can, and has, done much better.

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Pellam, former stuntman and location scout, is now taking some time off to work on a documentary about the New York City neighborhood called Hell's Kitchen. Located on the west side of Manhattan, it is a rather run down and rough neighborhood. The focus of his documentary is an elderly black woman, Ettie Washington, who has lived in Kitchen all of her life and has been telling Pellam numerous stories about life in that neighborhood.

When Pellam goes to visit Ettie one night, the building is set on fire where both he and Ettie barely manage to survive. After the investigation but the NYFD, the fire is ruled an arson and Ettie is immediately arrested as the one who hired the arson. Pellam is conviced of Ettie's innocence and seeks out to find the truth behind the fire. In the process, he captures the attention of the twisted arsonist who begins to focus his hate and passion on Pellam and wants to see him dead.

Honestly, I was not too thrilled with this book. It is my first book written by Deaver and he had gotten so many positive reviews that I figured I would give him a shot. The writing style wasn't too bad, but he seems to throw in twists and turns that make no sense and the progression of the story gets jagged at times. Also, I had a problem with the description of the Kitchen. He described the neighborhood to be this nasty hole in the wall that probably should be burnt to the ground. I worked near the Kitchen for four years and I will admit it isn't the nicest of neighborhoods, but it isn't nearly as bad as he described it. Especially since the city has taken a keen interest in rebuilding a lot of it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell’s Kitchen is part of Jeffery Deaver’s John Pellam series, and it is a thriller which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the book.

John Pellam is in Hell’s Kitchen in New York for once working on his own project, a documentary hoping to capture the unvarnished memories of long time Hell’s Kitchen residents. On his way to conduct an interview with, Ettie Washington in her apartment he could smell something which made him feel very uneasy. Before he knows it he sees an explosion when the door to the basement explodes and he tries to reach Ettie but is beaten back by the flames. Some how he manages to escape but does wake up in hospital.

When he visits Ettie, she too is in hospital, but the police kick him out and do not tell him anything that is happening. When they charge Ettie with homicide and arson, Pellan knows he will have to find all the answers himself. He already knows that both the NYPD and NYFD had their culprit and would look no further. Pellam asks questions on the streets, asking the questions that the police should have been doing. At the same time the arsonist is still setting fires in a wide array of buildings. The police hope that by detaining Ettie she will give up the name of the arsonist.

Pellam chases leads, and the truth seems a lot further away, even though he is doing the sensible thing and following the money things are not as clear as they should be. While he is doing this, he is gaining respect on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.

Every time you think you understand stand where this thriller is going there is another twist. This really is a great read.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the third book in a John Pellam trilogy, but I haven't read the first and second ones.
Before starting this book I was slightly disappointed that the novel was not a Lincoln Rhyme one. Just a few pages into the book I was completely caught up, hook, line and sinker! Talk about not being able to put a book down - this was one of those! I thoroughly enjoy thrillers and I have enjoyed every one of Jeffery Deaver's books that I have read, but for some reason this one was mesmerising. An abundance of characters, all of whom could be real life people, each with their own story, and each with their own pain. This is no fairy-tale - not too many happy ever afters. Hard hitting and descriptive of hard lives lived in a concrete jungle that gives no quarter, I would recommend this novel to any person who enjoys thrillers.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Pellam is a Hollywood location scout and former stuntman who is in the Big Apple hoping to capture true memories of some longtime Hell's Kitchen residents, such as Ettie Washington, that he wants to make into a no-budget documentary film. When a suspicious fire burns her aged tenement building to the ground, he realizes that someone may want the past to stay in the past.

More buildings and lives start to go up in flames, Pelham goes to the streets, looking for the pyromanic who sells his (or her?) services to the highest bidder. Pellam is not aware that these fires are only preludes to the arsonist's ultimate goal which is a conflagration so huge with Hell's Kitchen - and Pellam - at its epicenter.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hollywood filmmaker comes out to Hell's Kitchen, New York, to make a no-budget documentary and finds himself embroiled in a string of arsons that is not only destroying buildings but taking lives. The chief subject of John Pellam's film, Ettie Washington, is soon charged with the crime of one building but a firebug is only just beginning his reign of terror.

Pelham starts to investigate the crews/clubs/gangs in Hell's Kitchen, looking for the real criminal -- the one who set the firebug on the area. Doing so puts his own live on the line.

Denver has created a compelling, suspenseful story with memorable, three-dimensional characters. This is thrilling reading.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hell's Kitchen was my first experience in the John Pellam series. The book overall to me was just ok. It started out slow and took a while to progress. Also, it contained way to much Ebonic language that I found distracting and hard to understand. The book really didn't start to take off at high speed til the last 100 pages or so. I'm a huge fan of Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series, so I was left wondering why Hell's Kitchen was penned as William Jefferies? The only answer I could come up with was maybe Mr. Deavers was as concerned as I was over the quality of the book and decided to distance himself in case the book failed.

[Zoya.Diaries · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hell’s Kitchen is the third and final book of the Pellam series. This time, John is making a documentary on a neighborhood called Kitchen in New York. Unfortunately, he gets meddled by a serial arsonist who begins targeting everyone John is involved with. The last twist was unexpected. I finally understood John’s enthusiasm for helping Ettie.

Now, the previous books had both sexism and racism, but this one is on another level. The stereotypes were overwhelming, we also got racism, body shaming, and more sexism. Since I already had the series, I wanted to read it all, but I don’t see myself reading by this author again.

[JIM Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deader does it again

John Pellem is a location scout/film maker doing a documentary about the history of Hell's Kitchen, NY. He has been interviewing Ettie Washington, a 78 year old lifetime resident.

When her tenement is burned down by a serial arsonist she is accused of hiring him and is arrested and jailed.

Pellem believes she is innocent and with the help of her lawyer sets out to prove it.

Lots of twists and turns and some unexpected allies he sets out to prove her innocence.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Pellam is still a monolithic character. Very dull. Glad to say that book 3 turned out an interesting plot. I was hoping not to be totally disappointed with William Jefferies aka Jeffery Deaver. Hell's Kitchen is a part of New York that other authors mention, but never go there. I was not sure there would be anything left after the arsonist burned so many buildings. I can't recommend this series of books.

[Greg Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weakest part of the story were attempts to "get inside the head" of the arsonist.
He just comes off as a cartoonish crazy villain. Offered no insight to the criminal mind.

Otherwise, seemed like a clumsy attempt at combining a modern-day terrorist thriller with a nostalgic look at historic NYC.

Would be 2 stars, but Jeffrey Deavers (writing here as William Jeffries) does have some thriller chops and the last few chapters do move.

[Jessica Colombo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In questo ultimo capitolo il ritmo della narrazione mi è parso più incalzante, rispetto al volume precedente
Il romanzo ha una buona struttura e ci sono diversi colpi di scena interessanti; uno, in particolare, è reso in maniera magistrale per confondere il lettore e portarlo a credere di aver risolto l'enigma
Mi sarebbe piaciuto leggere qualche avventura in più di questo personaggio, nel complesso sono dei libri carini

[Diane Dewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Pellam is a strange character who lives in a California trailer, produces successful films, and is a well-known location scout. In this book, he explores the oral history of New York's Hell's Kitchen with the view of creating a documentary.

Along the way he encounters many intriguing characters and unexpected adventures. An arsonist is destroying key buildings. Who and why is the question.

[Sheepdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crime novel with a difference.

The author did a great job of telling a good story using an unsual protagonist.

Good plot. Rich in detail. Storytelling generally rich with detail.

Many interesting characters made very "three dimensional".

A very good read.

____________
It does deal with arson and the consequences of arson powerfully. Probably not a good book for people who know burn victims in their real world.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manhattan non mi è mai sembrata così interessante fino a che Deaver non ha deciso di scrivere una storia ambientata in uno dei suoi quartieri. Ismael, Ettie, Bailey, Corcoran ... i personaggi si incastrano perfettamente nella storia e fanno emergere il passato irriverente del quartiere.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A departure

Location scout to documentary filmmaking let this be set in New York. Still, the book fails to capture the film craft as the previous entries do. Hints of his villains to come in his Rhyme series are flashed with the arsonist.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in the hospital lacking much in the way of choices. It was solid enough. You're in the head of the bad guy too, and it's a pretty toxic place. Personal preference that I can skip that bit. It did surprise me a few times.

[Jaellayna Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent story, kept me guessing. I rated it a "3" for the pacing. I thought the story dragged on too long with lots of unnecessary descriptions and details. Just personal taste, I suppose. But I would have enjoyed it more had it been more tightly edited.

[Gail Canizares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deaver specializes in twists and turns

And characters we care about. This is a classic whodunit with the extra punch of a detailed, realistic setting. The bad guy is a bit over the top, but, well best read the book.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book did not see that ending coming